Nesta Obermer OBE, (née Sawyer; 14 September 1893 – 3 October 1984), was a British philanthropist, playwright and artist.

She was honoured as an officer of the Order of the British Empire and received the Distinguished Women Award from Northwood University for her philanthropy and stature as a role model.

[1][4] On 23 April 1925, at St James' Church Sussex Gardens, she married Seymour Obermer, an American playwright living in England.

The couple lived variously in their home in the English countryside, their flat in London, or their villa at Grasse on the French Riviera.

It is a dual portrait of Gluck and Sawyer, inspired by their attendance in 1936 of Fritz Busch's production of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni.

[17] Gluck acknowledged Sawyer as their one great love[18] and her inspiration, saving the letters that they had written in a shoebox, which was discovered after her death.

[19] The Obermers were involved in many charitable works and organized events to benefit the Heritage Craft Schools for Crippled Children.

[1] She also provided financial support to the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Amnesty International, and other educational programmes.

[22] In 1948, the couple moved to Hawaii, as Obermer's husband had suffered a stroke and he thought the climate might improve his condition.

[1][23] For six years they lived at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and along with the expatriate community made numerous trips to Asia and the Pacific Islands.

[23][24] Obermer continued her philanthropic work, hosting art shows and auctions to fund programmes like the Kuakini Medical Center, Palama Settlement House, and organizations benefiting those with visual impairments.

[25][24][26] Her works included portraits, which were praised for capturing the characteristics of her subjects, and landscapes of tropical settings, in Hawaii and from her travels to Bali, Fiji, Tahiti, and other places.

[41] Medallion is considered a seminal work and "one of the most famous paintings" in the depiction of LGBTQ relationships, according to Gluck's biographers, Amy De La Haye and Martin Pel.